Admissions

St Francis Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in the Diocese of Southwark. It is in the trusteeship of the Diocese. The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its Trust Deed and Instrument of Government, and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ.

As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeates every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education is fully supported by all families in the school.

The school exists primarily to serve the Catholic community. However, the Governing Body welcomes applications, subject to the availability of places, from those of other denominations and faiths who support the religious ethos of the school.

The governing body has responsibility for admissions to this school and, having consulted with the local authority and other admission authorities, intends to admit 60 pupils to the Reception class in the school year which begins in September.

Pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan

The admission of pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. This procedure is integral to the making and maintaining statements by the pupil’s home local authority. Details of this separate procedure are set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Application procedures

To apply for a place at this school, you must complete and return two separate forms.

The Common Application Form (for applications to Reception Class) is available online and should be completed electronically. To access the form, please visit https://www.eadmissions.org.uk
The Supplementary Information and Priest’s Declaration Form is available from the school and on our school website. This must be completed and returned to St Francis Catholic Primary School, Friary Road, Peckham SE15 1RQ.

Note: The closing date for return of these two forms (for Reception Class) is 15th January, prior to the Reception start date for your child.

You will be advised of the outcome of your application by a common offer date specified by the local authority. This will initially be by letter from the local authority on behalf of the school. If you are unsuccessful (unless your child gained a place at a school you ranked higher on your Common Application Form), you may ask the school for the reasons, related to the oversubscription criteria listed above, and you have the right of appeal to an independent appeal panel.

Both the Supplementary Information Form and the Common Application Form MUST be completed if you wish your son/daughter to be considered for a place. You are advised to make two copies of the forms. You should retain one copy and pass the second copy to the school or your priest, as indicated.

Over Subscription Criteria

Where there are more applications for places than the number of places available, places will be offered according to the Over Subscription Criteria in order of priority. This criteria can be found within the school’s Admission’s Policy.

Appeals

Parents wishing to appeal against the refusal to admit a child may do so by writing to the chair of governors of the school. If the matter cannot be resolved by informal discussion, an independent appeal committee will be convened. The decision of the appeal committee shall be binding.

The admission authority for the school must allow you at least 20 school days to appeal from when they send the decision letter.

The admission authority will set a deadline for submitting information and evidence to support your appeal. If you submit anything after the deadline, it might not be considered and may result in delays to your hearing.

The admission authority must give you at least 10 school days’ notice of the hearing.

Appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for making an appeal.

What happens at the appeal hearing

There’s a panel of 3 or more people at the appeal hearing. The panel must be independent and must follow the school admission appeals code. The admission authority will explain why they turned down your application. You’ll be able to give your own reasons why your child should be admitted. The appeals panel must decide if the school’s admission criteria were properly followed and comply with the school admissions code.

If the criteria were not properly followed or do not comply with the school admissions code your appeal must be upheld. If your reasons for your child to be admitted outweigh the school’s reasons for not admitting any more children at all, your appeal will be upheld.

You will usually be sent the decision within 5 school days.

Late Applications

Any late applications will be considered by the Governors’ Admissions Committee, in the event of there being any available places using the Over Subscription Criteria. If all places have been filled parents will be offered the opportunity of placing their child’s name on the waiting list. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place.

Waiting List

Parents of children who have not been offered a place at the school may ask for their child’s name to be placed on a waiting list. A waiting list will be maintained by the Local Authority until 31^st August and subsequently by the school until 31^st January. A child’s place on the waiting list will be determined in accordance with the oversubscription criteria found within the school’s Admission Policy. Placing a child’s name on the waiting list does not guarantee that a place will become available. This does not prevent parents from exercising their right to appeal against the decision not to offer a place. Names are normally removed from the list after six months.